Pride Events

Each year, since 2011, since the current crop of the Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation board members have been at this game, Austin Pride has ramped up the ante with more acts, more events, more more, more, and more. The quality has matched the quantity, too, with last year's expanded and remapped parade route, with extra fun and frolic and the fest proper, and with bands and entertainers that scour a variety of interests and genres. On top of all this, like a big gay cherry, a lot of area clubs and groups are gettinig in on the fun with events as well. We're only dipping into borderline hyperbole to say that Austin Pride is starting to feel a little, oh, gosh, how shall we say, South by Southwesty? And that's a good thing. More fun for everyone! Here's what's on tap for this weekend. We'll see you out at the fest, and look for us to be throwin' MoonPie and bead swag (like we do) at the parade. Happy Pride, y'all!

THURSGAY

QPOCA'S BLOCK PARTY 2K13 Meet the UT LGBTQ groups, mingle if yer single (or whatever ...), get down to some music (Queer Chorus), and celebrate back to school with UT's Queer People of Color & Allies. Thu., Sept. 5, 5-8pm. Gregory Plaza, 21st & Speedway. www.qpocatexas.com.

HAPPY HOUR WITH MS. WRIGHT The legendary and most adorable Margaret Wright on the black & whites is a great way to head into the weekend. Thursdays and Fridays, 6-8pm. The Skylark Lounge, 2039 Airport, 512/730-0759. Free.

'MEAN GIRLS' & WAY GAY Quote-along and sing-along twofer. First up is the La Linds chestnut Mean Girls, where you get to shout along with Gretchen Wieners and the rest of the Plastics. Then tackle gay ditties that make us feel fuzzy, empowered, and ready to twerq. Thu., Sept. 5, 7 & 9:45pm. Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, 320 E. Sixth, 512/476-1320. $12 each show; $44 balcony package for two. www.austinpride.org.

PATRICE PIKE Take a hike, and see the Pike. Thursdays, 8-10pm. Saxon Pub, 1320 S. Lamar, 512/448-2552. www.facebook.com/PatricePikeBand.

TEMPTATION THURSDAYS Hip-hop, R&B, and house in the house, all for we LGBT. Thursdays, 9pm. Quantum Lounge, 305 W. Fifth, 832/878-4527. Free (Ages 18-21, $10).

RAINBOW NIGHT In SM Keep the rainbow glow flowing in the town where the river runs cool and the trains toot on the regular. Drag show, drink specials, and happy, happy family. First Thursdays, 9:30pm. Fullmoon Saloon. www.facebook.com/fullmoon.sanmarcos.

FRIGAY

WERK! AUSTIN PRIDE FASHION SHOW RuPaul reyna Raja emcees this Project Runway runway romp featuring Daniel Esquivel, Mychael Knight, Melissa Fleis, and Jeffrey Sebelia. Do not miss electro/dance-poppers Hi Fashion and SF homo-hoppers Double Duchess (see interviews, p.24). Fri., Sept. 6, 7pm. AT&T Conference Center Amphitheatre, 1900 University Ave., 512/404-1900. www.austinpride.org.

POO POO PLATTER: OVER THE RAINBOW Somewhere, someone is offending someone. And your little dog, too. Fri., Sept. 6, 11pm. Elysium, 705 Red River, 512/478-2979. $5.

BRASS HOUSE AFTER DARK Three nights to honor Pride and our community: Bleu Magnolia hosts Boylesque and Burlesque on Friday, the Capital City Men's Chorus hosts Saturday, and Frot Vodka and Jim Beam host to benefit the Care Communities on Sunday. Fri.-Sun., Sept. 6-8, 8:30pm. Brass House, 115-B San Jacinto. www.brownpapertickets.com.

CHRISTEENE Holy shit. Not since her roll in the hay of now-defunct lez bar Sister's Edge 2 has our sis Chris taken on a real live Austin gay bar. Lord, Bobby, what hath ye wrought? Fri., Sept. 6, 10pm. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth.

TWERK THAT PINK PARTY All over the world, pre-Prides are kicked off with the Pink. "Booty shorts," says DJ Divorcee – booty shorts, and we bet the color pink. Plus, Fantasy & Khattie Q poo pah doo, plus, hold on to your chones: Vochah Redu from New Orleans! Pop it, lock it, drop it, then pick it back up pup pup pup pup pup uh dup. Fri., Sept. 6, 10pm. Cheer Up Charlie's, 1104 E. Sixth, 512/431-2133.

SATURGAY

RAINBOW RUN 5K A gayass 5K/3.1 mile fruity co-co-pops "fun run" through the streets of Austin's q-friendly Downtown culminating in an early morning dance party (or late, for some of you) and Holi-style rainbow powdersplosion. POW! Sat., Sept. 7, 9am. Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress, 512/305-8400. Starting at $33. www.austinpride.org, www.austinpride.ticketleap.com/austin-pride-2013-rainbow-run.

AUSITN PRIDE FESTIVAL 2013 What an amazing year! The entire week has led up to this big weekend. Here's the main event! Our daylong social scene spent prancing from community booth to community booth, from buddy to ex-lover to future ex-husband with plenty of fun for folks of all orientations, ages, creeds, cultures, and proclivities, culminating in the star-studded show, with live music on the main stage and DJs on the east stage (starring Andy Bell of Erasure, Crystal Waters, Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's, Jojo of the Mary Jane Girls, Hi Fashion, RuPaul's Drag Race stars Raja, Shannel and Shangela, Steve Grand, Wendy Ho, Double Duchess, JD Samson of Le Tigre/MEN, Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem, and a host of local lovelies). Austin, are you ready to love thy neighbor? As thyself? Deeply? Truly? Passionately? And show the world how big and bursting this deep in the heart of this fucked-up state is? Let's show 'em. Oh, hell yes we're proud. Sat., Sept. 7, 11am. Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St., 512/480-8318. $20, $17 in advance. president@austinpride.org, www.austinpride.org.

AUSTIN PRIDE FAMILY ZONE Join Family Equality Council for temp tats, arts & crafts, community quilting, and more at the Family Zone during the Pride Festival at Fiesta Gardens. Sat., Sept. 7, 11am-6pm. Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St., 617/502-8706. Free. mjacobus@familyequality.org, www.familyequality.org/austin_pride.

OUTLANDER 2013 FALL MUSIC FESTIVAL Kari K! Tje Austin! Lisa Marshall! The 7s! Julie Nolen! Tick Tock! Nakia! Krudas Cubensi! Grrlz Will Be Boiz! And so many more, we can't see straight. Austin's most locally focused and bi(sexy)annual music fest. THANK YOU, AUSTIN! YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT AUDIENCE! Sat., Sept. 7, 11pm-2am. Cedar Street, 208 W. Fourth, 512/200-3040. $10, $8 in advance; VIP $40, $25 in advance. chase@theoutlanderproject.com, www.theoutlanderproject.com.

AUSTIN PRIDE GROUP WEDDING How can you not get married when the majestic Paramount Theatre is your backdrop, Erica Nix is your photog, DJ C-Rail is your music maestro, and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's officiates? I do! I do! I do! Sat., Sept. 7, 7:30pm. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress, 512/472-5470. president@austinpride.org, www.austinpride.org.

AUSTIN PRIDE PARADE 2013 Whoooo! Congrats to grand marshals and community darlings Mary Morrison and Omar Lopez-Jara! An amazing 70,000 showed up to witness last year's biggest, boldest parade ever. Do not miss this year! She lines up east of the Capitol on San Jacinto and rolls along 11th in front of the pinkest dome in the land, turns onto Congress and heads towards Gaybarville. Are you rollin' or are you strollin'? Either way, get in your place and revel in the sweetest celebration of "We Are Family" that this most civilized, gay-friendly town offers. Damn right we're proud. Sat., Sept. 7, 8pm. Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress, 512/305-8400. Free. www.austinpride.org.

LIGHT ASYLUM W/ SURVIVE As if there weren't enough going on this freakin' weekend, synth siths Light Asylum dares you to miss them this up-close-and-personal at the most cuddly goth bar in the South. Sat., Sept. 7, 9pm-2am. Elysium, 705 Red River, 512/478-2979. $15. www.facebook.com/events/421365387983323.

SUNGAY

PRIDE DRAG BRUNCH French toast brûlée, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, mimosas, and we bet lots of delightful cheese as Kai Lee Mykels and a crew of queens sashay to the DJ stylin' of the Lovebirds. Sun., Sept. 8, 11am. Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St., 512/480-8318. www.austinpride.org.

POST-PRIDE FAMILY ZONE Post-Pride family-friendly pool party and cool down at Deep Eddy Pool. Then, get this: The kids get an afterparty pizza picnic next door at Eilers Park! Sun., Sept. 8, 3-5:30pm and 5:30-8pm. Deep Eddy Pool, 401 Deep Eddy Ave., 617/502-8706. Free. mjacobus@familyequality.org, www.familyequality.org/austin_pride.

AUSTIN BABTIST WOMEN'S 27TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW What!? 27 years is just a bat of the eye to these old bats! We mean ol' birds! We mean hot babes. We mean church ladies. We'll STFU now. Sun., Sept. 8, 7pm. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 512/320-8823. $5 suggested donation. www.babtistwomen.com.

BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS A great way to cool down (a/c!) and heat back up (Dolly! Burt! Ubiquitous Seventies elected official character type, Charles Durning!) post-Pride. The delightful Dee Dee Davis of our beloved United Court hosts. Sun., Sept. 8, 7pm. Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, 320 E. Sixth, 512/476-1320.

PRINCESS Queen me! Sun., Sept. 8, 10:30pm & 12mid. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 512/320-8823.